Friday, January 7, 2011

100 Yard Fast

Like many fabric hoarders collectors, I sometimes get overwhelmed with my stash and say, Enough Already! I'll resolve not to buy any fabric for the next year, or 6 months or whatever. But then I'll see something pretty and, well, you know. The problem with this, for me, is there's no motivation. If I stop buying for say, 2 months, and I don't use any of my stash, then what's changed, except I'm either a) grumpy from not spending or b) guilty from not sewing.

So, I came up with a new plan. The 100 Yard Fast. The way it works is simple: as soon as I use up 100 yards of fabric, I get to buy more. The quicker I sew, the quicker I get to replenish. Why 100 yards? It sounds kinda cool, like the 100 Yard Dash. Really, though, I estimated my stash at about 400 yards, so I figured using up a quarter of that (at fat quarter of that, ha! I crack myself up!) is an attainable goal. (Have you ever done that, estimated the size of your stash? It's a little scary. And my stash is tiny compared to a lot of people. But go tell someone who isn't textile addicted that you've got 400 yards of fabric sitting in the basement and they'll be calling A&E to have you audition for the next episode of Hoarders. It adds up quickly. )

So how to use it. A lot of what I have is bargain bin, $1 yard stuff pucked from JoAnns red tag tables back when my standards weren't as high. Sure, give me 10 yards, it will make a great quilt back. Of course, now quilt backs are just as cute as the fronts. (In my own defense, I have found some jewels in those, like 12 yards of Timeless Treasures in a provencal pattern - both yellow and blue. Still have 10 yards!) But my plan is this:

1. quilt more. I have at least 6 WIPs that I will finish this winter. I won't count the fronts that have been pieced, but the backs, for sure.
2. make more charity quilts. My goal is one on one. For every quilt I complete, I make a charity quilt. These tend to be simpler and faster. And will easily eat up 6-8 yards!
3. get my daughter involved. She's 14 and very creative. Every inch she uses counts, too!
4. give it away. I recently met a lovely lady, Andi, who works with cancer patients, doing fiber art with them while they're receiving treatment as a way to pass the time. She has a full access pass to my stash.

How long will this take? I don't really know. Three months? Four? It doesn't really matter. The idea is to use what I have and create. Simple. And after I use my first hundred, I plan to do it again, and get my stash down just to yardage I really love.

Oh, and don't feel to sorry for me, working with my boring same old, same old. I did plan a little bit for this endeavor. (Kinda like carbo-loading before a marathon.) Hubby was good enough to visit my Amazon wish list and put these under the tree:


So, as I use it up, I'll post how I'm doing. Feel free to join me on this little adventure!

2 comments:

craftytammie said...

yep - only fabric addicts understand. it does add up fast - and i have the same stash problems! i'll try to join you in the fasting!

Katherine said...

This is a great idea. I've recently met my goal which was, give away or use up everything that didn't fit onto the bookshelf that it is supposed to fit onto! Now I can see the floor again, and it is so much nicer!